A new study ranks Vietnam among the world’s leaders in self-care readiness, underscoring its potential to relieve the burden on healthcare systems in Southeast Asia. Self-care, defined by the World Health Organization as the ability of individuals, families, and communities to maintain health and manage illness with or without professional support, is gaining emphasis in the region.
In many developing Asia Pacific countries, there are only 1.1 to 1.6 doctors per 1,000 people, contributing to healthcare challenges. Ms Maria Valentina Sposito, zone general manager for Southeast Asia, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Opella, noted that for nearly 700 million people in ASEAN, prioritizing self-care could transform healthcare access and experience.
Vietnam stands out with about 73% of healthcare providers incorporating self-care into patient counselling, indicating strong institutional support. Dr Nguyen Khanh Phuong, director of the Health Strategy and Policy Institute (HSPI), stated, “Vietnam has established solid foundations to advance self-care, while also pointing to clear opportunities to further strengthen mainstream communication, healthcare counselling and safe access to reliable information.”
The Bangkok Joint Initiative on Self-Care of Medical Products for Health and Well-being, launched in 2024 at a joint congress in Bangkok, advocates for integrating self-care into health systems supported by enhanced health literacy, regulatory frameworks, and public-private collaboration.
Ms Sposito emphasized that outpatient visits for minor conditions often crowd clinics in many ASEAN countries. She said, “Enabling safe self-medication for appropriate conditions reduces unnecessary consultations, freeing up resources for more complex care.”
This shift towards self-care could significantly reshape healthcare delivery for millions across Southeast Asia.
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